Meet The Maker : Suzi B Crochet

Meet The Maker : Suzi B Crochet

Every time we see one of Suzi B’s creations run across our Instagram feed, we’re overwhelmed by the cuteness of her makes. And we LOVE that she makes extensive use of our Eco-Cotton to make her toys and rattles. Eco-Cotton is a great choice for babies. It’s durable, and environmentally friendly, perfect for baby to chew on.

Sue, a remedial therapist at a private school, lives in tranquil Melkbosstrand, where she shares her home with an incredibly patient husband, two children, a grumpy cat named Cleo and lively Labrador puppy, named Maya. Her afternoons are spent crocheting her super cute creations. In between all her commitments, we caught up with Sue.

What inspires you?

I find inspiration in the colours of nature and beautiful natural yarns. I’m a very sensory person and I love the feel of cotton yarns whilst crocheting and it might sound strange but I’m mad about the smell of Nurturing Fibres Eco-Cotton yarns.

Where did you learn to crochet and how long have you been crocheting?

My aunt, Marion, gave me a few crochet lessons five years ago. I was completely hooked from the start. Thereafter I spent many hours watching YouTube videos, learning different stitches, techniques and to read patterns. For my first project I was rather over-ambitious and definitely bit off more than I could chew. I decided to make a beautiful blanket for my daughter, Lyla, which involved many colour changes. The blanket took me a whole year to complete but was worth it. It is something that my daughter will hopefully treasure forever.

How did Suzi B Crochet start?

Once I become confident enough to start reading patterns I bought my first pattern, by the talented Lilleliis, for the sweetest little ballerina mouse to make for Lyla. She loved it and took it everywhere with her. The next toy I tried was a little unicorn. I received so many compliments from friends and family that I decided to start taking orders and that’s how Suzi B Crochet was started.

Do you ever suffer from crojo…. That horrible feeling when you seem to be ‘missing’ your crochet mojo? And if yes, how do you get around it?

Not really. I crochet every day and have at least 5 or six different WIPS on the go at any one time. If I see a picture on Pinterest or Instagram of something I like I literally have to start it immediately. It’s is a bit of a balancing act as I’m involved with the making of every Suzi B Crochet product and hand embroider each toy and rattles’ face myself. I would love to learn to sew and quilt, but need to save up for a machine first!

Do you use your own patterns for your range of toys and baby clothing?

There are so many talented designers out there and such a variety of patterns to buy online which I use for my business. I have recently started writing my own patterns for toys and rattles which I am very excited and proud of. I want to create as many unique products as possible for our range of toys so watch this space.

What are your future plans for Suzi B Crochet?

Eventually I’d love to focus purely on Suzi B Crochet. My little business has grown more than I would have ever imagined in the 20 months since we started. We supply a few local online gift and baby shops, ship worldwide and have an agent in Dubai. I have 4 wonderful ladies, Trisha, Anna, Colleen and Linda, who assist me with the crochet work. They do all the work in the comfort of their homes. I am currently looking for more ladies in the community who would like to learn to crochet. Empowering women by teaching them a skill that will provide them with an income for themselves and their families is my next step.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Brenda is our Brand Ambassador and Head Designer. She has designed a large number of our crochet patterns and is currently dabbling in knitting. She is also responsible for our social media content and will more often than not be the person you're speaking to on our social media platforms.